FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Access and appointments

How do I make appointments? Can I make appointments 'online?'
Ring (03) 6336 0555 or call in at our surgery in person to make appointments.
Currently, appointments cannot be made 'online' via email.

Can I consult with a doctor 'online'?
No. It is currently our strict policy on safety grounds not to
provide consultation services 'online' via email.

What should I do if I think that I need a longer consultation?
You may think that you have a problem(s) that will take more time,
say more than 10-15 minutes. If so, ask to be booked for a longer
consultation - sometimes even half-an-hour or more could be
necessary. (Also see "Why did my doctor charge me extra for a
longer consultation?)

Can I speak to my doctor on the telephone?
Not unless the matter is urgent or serious and requires a doctor's immediate
attention. Note that it is important to keep doctors off the telephone
where possible, as otherwise they will start to run behind
(see "Why do doctors run late?" and "How far behind is Dr. Jackson?").

Most times, you will not need to speak directly to the doctor, for example,
to obtain your pathology and imaging results (see 'Telepath'), to obtain
a prescription (see 'Telescript), or to make an appointment, etc. as we
find that our receptionists or a member of the nursing staff will usually
be able to satisfy your requirements.

Can I speak to another doctor (not my usual GP at the
practice) about my medication?
Yes, if the matter is urgent and cannot wait until your usual
doctor (who normally would have prescribed the medication) is on
duty.

Do we take new patients?
Check. Telephone us to see if we are currently taking new patients.
But see elsewhere in this FAQ regarding issues such as obtaining
your medical file, and if it applies, what is to happen if you are
taking S8 medication, or wish to go on to the Methadone Maintenance
Program (MMP).

Do you see tourists/visitors to Tasmania?
Yes. We welcome visitors to our State. Tourists and visitors should be
medically prepared by bringing information about their condition
with them - see elsewhere in this FAQ. Please also note that
travellers will need to settle their account in full on the day
that you are seen.

Do you see refugees who have settled in Launceston?
Yes. Interpreter services may be required.

Why can't I get an appointment?
The main reason is that the number of doctors we have is limited, and it is
important to try not to overwork them. 'Overbooking' doctors is
something that we do not want to do. Also, finding new doctors can be a difficult task, principally as a result of the health/manpower
policies of successive federal governments.

We try to have
patients seen when they want to be seen; on the day if their
condition requires it. Please note: we are constantly endeavoring
to find and employ new doctors, refer elsewhere in this web site.

What am I supposed to do if the doctors are all booked up?
That's a tough one. Consider if your matter is urgent (if the
receptionist has not realised that already) and if so tell the
receptionist - all urgent matters have to be attended to
somehow. Consider if your matter could wait a few days, or even
a week or so, before you are seen. There are many problems that
can wait.

It may be possible to deal with the matter over the telephone, discuss your
situation with our Senior Nurse (or one of our other nurses if she
is unavailable); the Senior Nurse may decide to talk to your doctor
at an appropriate time or arrange other services for you.

In the end, it might be necessary to refer you to the Emergency
Department at the Launceston General Hospital, but we
prefer to avoid this if at all possible, unless it appears
that is the best thing to do anyway.

Why am I sometimes kept waiting to see the doctor?
Your time is valuable and we do not want to keep you waiting;
this is particularly important for workers who have taken time
off work to see the doctor, and for busy mothers of young
children. However, it is unfortunately true that having to
wait to see the doctor can be a fact of life (and all doctors
seem to have 'waiting rooms').

Doctors can be delayed for a
number of reasons including: urgent cases arriving unexpectedly
such as heart attack victims or bleeding lacerations, patients
unexpectedly telling a doctor about a very important problem
that can't wait, doctors being called away on an urgent hospital
visit or home visit, or even unexpectedly heavy demand for
immediate or same day appointments. If you feel that you have
waited too long, tell our receptionists so that they can do
something about it for you.

How many problems can I raise with my doctor in the one consultation?
As many as you think that you need to. However, if you 'save up'
a lot of problems, there may well not be enough time in a single
consultation to deal with them. You and your doctor may have to
'prioritise' the problems into an order of importance, and deal
with the most important ones first, leaving others until a later
time.

If you know that you are going to ask about a lot of
problems at once, consider asking for a longer consultation
(also see "Why did my doctor charge more for a longer
consultation?").
Tip: it may be a better strategy to attend the doctor more often,
rather than leave it until you have what might be too many
problems to deal with in the one sitting.

How far behind is Dr. Jackson?
Ring to find out - he's doing his best, we guarantee it.

Can I take mobile phone calls/receive SMS text messages while I am seeing the doctor?
Only if you want him/her to run behind (see "Why do doctors run
late?", "How far behind is Dr. Jackson?" and possibly "Why did
my doctor charge more for a longer consultation?").